HELP ME TO BEAT MY BIG PERCH JINX!

WELL, the last week has certainly been a tricky time to find angling opportunities, since most of the country’s lakes have been frozen solid.

The forecast is looking much milder for this week, so hopefully we’ll all have some actual water to play with over the coming days! While cold weather in winter is hardly shocking news, we do seem to be experiencing some really up-and-down conditions. Quite recently, it was so mild that were multiple catches of tench being taken from my local club water. A few days later the lake was frozen for the following week! The fish probably don’t know whether they’re coming or going.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to ask for the help of the awesome Angling Times readers. For the last few years I’ve fished a local lake in the hope of catching a big perch or two. The lake in question has no other predatory species and a huge stock of small silverfish, so all the ingredients are there for producing specimen-sized perch.

Despite that I’ve never caught any bigger than a few ounces! I was starting to think that maybe I’d guessed wrong, and that for some reason there were no big perch present. I then saw pictures of several fish to nearly 3lb caught from there a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve since heard reports of more big perch coming out!

I’ve tried all the usual tactics (livebaiting isn’t permitted on the water) from big lobworms, to maggot feeders and waggler fished prawns but haven’t ever got through to the bigger fish.

So I’m asking for you guys to help me out with your best tips for catching the bigger perch! Whether it’s a certain tactic or a particular bait that’s served you well in the past, I’d appreciate any advice. Otherwise I’m simply going to have to accept that I’m just a magnet for small perch!

I hope you enjoy the issue, and good luck with your fishing this week.